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Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Venezuela Is Out Of McDonald's Fries

If you want fries with your Big Mac or your kid's Happy Meal, it's not gonna happen in Venezuela. They're out of them. Like so many other shortages in the socialist utopia that the late Hugo Chavez spearheaded, there are no taters, so they've resorted to serving yuca fries (root vegetable), arepas (corn patties), or salads. Mickey D franchisers blame a union labor contract dispute with dock workers on the West Coast of the US, but there is no strike, yet. But others blame it on government policy, which is a far more likely scenario, considering no other Latin American franchisees are having any trouble getting their frozen fries shipped from the U.S. At least according to Sonia Ruseler of Arcos Dorados Holdings (Golden Arches) the Latin American and corporate entity that owns, operates and franchises McDonald's in Latin America and the Caribbean. She remained mum as to the reason why. Government officials have said it's not the government's fault.

The U.S. Potato Board, on the other hand, claims that last year, before any major problems with the union dock workers, Venezuela ordered way fewer frozen fries compared to the same 10 month period in 2013. Just 14 % of the amount from the prior year.

Whatever the reason, consumer's are not happy.

"It's because of the situation here; it's a total debacle," said Maria Guerreiro, who huffed out of a Caracas McDonald's with her family when she found out they were serving only fries made of yuca, which is also known as cassava. Her daughter won't eat that starchy root, she said, and they'd come for the sole purpose of treating the two-year-old to a Happy Meal."

Woops.

Should be interesting to see how Venezuelan's vote the next time around.